{"id":163672,"date":"2026-02-04T15:29:14","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T15:29:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/163672\/"},"modified":"2026-02-04T15:29:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T15:29:14","slug":"the-downtown-report-early-february-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/163672\/","title":{"rendered":"The DOWNTOWN Report: Early February 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Good Vibes End The Year <\/p>\n

May as well use the exact words from longtime reader Steve. \u201cI just got pulled over by the Fullerton Police for making a rolling stop through a stop sign.\u201d What? How is that good news? He goes on, \u201cThe officer took my license and insurance card back to his car and came back and said, \u201c\u2018You\u2019re not getting a ticket today. We just wanted to improve our community relations, and here\u2019s a gift card for a local coffee shop. So, get your caffeine buzz on and no more rolling stops, please.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Missing<\/p>\n

Many thanks for the avalanche of cards, letters, emails, text messages, telegrams, Morse code communications, smoke signals, and inscribed stone tablets. We took a one-week sabbatical\u2014so thrilled you noticed our absence! Fear not, dear readers, for the Downtown Report has returned, ready to take a brief, reflective glance back into the abyss of our last edition and sprinkle in some wildly creative fabrications for your reading pleasure. Buckle up; it\u2019s going to be a bumpy ride through our patchy recall and imaginative storytelling!<\/p>\n

2025 Kicked to the Curb<\/p>\n

What\u2019s a New Year\u2019s Eve celebration all about, really? Why it\u2019s Auld Land Syne of course, as we all bade farewell to 2025 and sang good riddance as we looked forward to a new year with hopeful resolutions, not revolutions. The downtown was not so lively as New Year\u2019s was canceled due to a storm that never came.<\/p>\n

That Was The Year That Wasn\u2019t<\/p>\n

Satire and sarcasm, overheard wishful and wistful comments, plus more ways of saying goodbye to 2025, appear here right now. Please keep in mind, NONE OF THE STORIES UNDER THIS HEADING ARE TRUE, it\u2019s just for fun, but things that COULD have happened. Maybe. For instance, Mayor Zahra officially declared Fullerton free of graffiti and potholes for the first time since 1913, when we paved our very first roads after citizens voted for a $130,000 bond to improve our main roads, which at the time were dirt roads. That taken care of, the biggest overheard complaint is \u201cWhy are coyotes allowed to live in Coyote Hills?\u201d<\/p>\n

In more imaginary news, say hello to The Fox Block, a new dining and shopping plaza in Downtown Fullerton, which opened just two years after the approval of a development agreement. The permanent closure of Ellis Place for inclusion of outdoor dining and walkability was an immediate success, with no apparent negative effect on local hamburger, pizza, chicken or coffee sales. And don\u2019t think we\u2019ve forgotten about our beloved Walk On Wilshire! This pedestrian haven in downtown was immediately reopened with the participation of all establishments on West Wilshire, The Fox Block having paved the way. Parklets, public art installations, along with dining and special events, fill the space daily now. It now is the most popular place in Fullerton with people visiting from all over the world.<\/p>\n

Busy Bodies<\/p>\n

Wow, never saw so many pedestrians downtown before\u2026.. oh, it was 8,000 Pok\u00e9mon Go players who took over all downtown sidewalks and alleys in a Guinness World Record-setting augmented reality mobile game. All went well until one cellphone-focused group suddenly reversed course and pummeled the group heading the other way, creating a domino effect of fallen players.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Live For Today<\/p>\n

Downtown resident and longtime reader of the Observer, Lani Jeanne Hinkle, silently slipped away just before the New Year began. This was the final blow in what was, as already pointed out, a year to forget. But wait, just as the flow of tears began to slow a bit, so many stepped up and made it plain, life does go on, and once again, we discovered that this town is populated by humanitarians and such good people that, well, here goes.<\/p>\n

As the bittersweet estate sale was about to begin, 30 of you were waiting at the door. Some, certainly from other cities too. As family heirlooms went to their new homes, many stopped to say how happy they were to take possession of artwork, furniture, kitchen items, collectibles and the summation of a human life\u2019s possessions. It was so uplifting, thank you all. Lani was my older sister and one of the best friends I have ever had.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a>
\nThe Day Has Come<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>While we were basking in the Spring-like day, most of the USA was under an unrelenting, repressive assault by ice, snow, and freezing rain. All of the speakers took notice of who was in the audience, mainly the Fullerton residents who did not give up on the idea of a local park, rallying support for an incredible 20-plus years. Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk Silva recalled how she was on the City Council in 2004 when the idea was discussed. Persistence from Fullerton residents kept the idea alive, so keep that in mind.<\/p>\n

Photo Quiz <\/p>\n

Send answer to Mike at AllMedia@sbcglobal.net<\/p>\n

This time: What is this type of shoe called?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Last time: Gene knew right away that those Ginkgo trees lined both sides of Cornell, and the hint was about the Route 66 store on nearby Raymond Avenue.<\/p>\n

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